Chain-belt

ABSTRACT

An endless power transmission chain-belt (13) is disclosed that is  especiy adapted for drivingly connecting the pulleys (2, 3) of a pulley transmission (1). The chain-belt (13) has a chain (10, 12) that is an assembly of a plurality of interleaved sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22). A pivot pin (24) extends through the chains (10, 12) to lace and pivotally interconnect adjacent sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22) to provide an endless chain-belt 13). A plurality of first load block (14, 34, 35) are connected to the chain-belt (13) by at least one projection (15) that engages adjacent pivot pins (24). The first load blocks (14, 34, 35) have a substantially flat first bearing surface (21, 41) that is positioned adjacent the links (16, 18, 20, 22). A plurality of second load blocks (14, 34, 35) are connected to the chain-belt (13) by at least one projection (15). The second load blocks (14, 34, 35 ) have a second bearing surface (21, 41) that is positioned adjacent the links (16, 18, 20, 22) and is disposed at an angle with respect to the first bearing surface (21, 41) of the first load blocks (14, 34, 35).

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/496,461, filedMar. 20, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,999. The above-identified parentapplication is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in this patentapplication.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to metal chain-belts especially adapted toconnect the pulleys of a pulley transmission, particularly acontinuously variable transmission (CVT), and broadly comprises atension member or carrier constructed of a plurality of interlaced linksarranged in transverse sets with the adjacent sets joined by pivotmeans, and load blocks carried by the carrier for engaging the pulleys.

BACKGROUND ART

Flexible power transmission means-comprising an assembly of a pluralityof superimposed steel strips and a plurality of V-shaped blocks of metalare known in the art. An example of such construction is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,720,113 granted Mar. 13, 1973 to H. J. Van Doorne et al.In the patented structure, the blocks are provided with lateral guideshaving top edges which overlie the steel strips to maintain the parts inassembled relationship. The load is carried by the blocks and the blockscan slide along the band.

Another example of a flexible power transmission means is described inU.S. Pat. No. 3,949,621 granted Apr. 13, 1976 to Beusink, deceased, etal. in which metal plates are mounted on metal strips, the strips beingreceived in slots in one of the lateral edges of the plates.

Other flexible power transmission means comprising an assembly of links,pins and pulley contact members are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.2,038,583, granted Apr. 28, 1936 to Maurer and 2,475,264, granted July5, 1949 to Sutton.

Another metal transmission belt is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,479. Inthis reference there are a pair of spaced generally parallel chains thatare each constructed of a plurality of sets of interleaved links. Eachset is joined to the next adjacent set by a pin and the pin extendsacross both chains. Generally trapezodial load blocks are locatedbetween the chains and have cut outs in the sides for locating thechains. The load blocks are generally contoured at their edges to fitinto the V of the pulley and are disposed between the chains. The loadis carried by the chains and its pins. The load blocks arelongitudinally positioned with respect to the chains by the chain pins.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An endless power transmission chain-belt (13) is disclosed that isespecially adapted for drivingly connecting the pulleys (2, 3) of apulley transmission (1). The chain-belt (13) has a chain (10, 12) thatis an assembly of a plurality of interleaved sets of links (16, 18, 20,22). A pivot means (24) extends through the chains (10, 12) to lace andpivotally interconnect adjacent sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22) toprovide an endless chain-belt (13). The sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22)of the chain (10, 12) are held together by the pivot means (24). Aplurality of first load blocks (14, 34, 35) are connected to thechain-belt (13). The first load blocks (14, 34, 35) have at least oneprojection (15) that extends in a direction towards the chain (10, 12).The projection (15) engages adjacent pivot means (24) to secure thefirst load blocks (14, 34, 35) to the chain (10, 12). The first loadblocks (14, 34, 35) extend substantially across the width of the chain(10, 12) and have a substantially flat first bearing surface (21, 41)that is positioned adjacent the links (16, 18, 20, 22). Each first loadblock (14, 34, 35) have lateral edges (26, 28) shaped to frictionallyengage the pulleys (2, 3) of the pulley transmission (1). A plurality ofsecond load blocks (14, 34, 35) are connected to the chain-belt (13).The second load blocks (14, 34, 35) have at least one projection (15)that extends in a direction towards the chain (10, 12). The second loadblocks (14, 34, 35) have a second bearing surface (21, 41) that ispositioned adjacent the links (16, 18, 20, 22). The second bearingsurface (21, 41) is disposed at an angle with respect to the firstbearing surface (21, 41) of the first load blocks (14, 34, 35). Thesecond load blocks (14, 34, 35) are disposed at an angle with respect tosaid first load blocks (14, 34, 35) when the first (21, 41) and second(21, 41) bearing surface are in contact with the links (16, 18, 20, 22)and the noise producted by the chain-belt (13) during use is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a continuously variable transmission(CVT).

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a continuously variable transmission.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a load block of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another load block of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the load block of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a chain-belt ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a chain-belt utilizing the loadblock of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the chain-belt of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another load block used in thechain-belt of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13--13 of the loadblock of FIG. 12.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate schematically a continuously variabletransmission (CVT) 1 in two drive ratios. The CVT comprises a pair ofpulleys 2 and 3 connected respectively to shafts 4 and 5. One of theshafts being the driven shaft and the other shaft being the drive shaft.Pulleys 2 and 3 comprise a pair of flanges 6 and 7 with at least one ofthe flanges being conical. The pulleys are connected by a belt 8 and theside edges 9 of the belt frictionally engage the pulley flanges. Atleast one flange of each pulley is axially moveable with respect to theother so as to vary the drive ratios between the pulleys. The arrowsindicate the axial movement of the flanges to effect different driveratios. Means beyond the scope of this invention can be provided foraxially moving a least one flange relative to the other.

The power transmission means of this invention as shown in FIGS. 3-8comprises a pair of spaced chains 10, 12 and a plurality of generallytrapezoidal first load blocks 14 and second load blocks 34 that form anendless chain belt 13. Each chain 10 and 12 comprises sets ofinterleaved links 16, 18 and 20, 22, respectively, which are joined bypins 24. The first load blocks 14 have tapered sides 26, 28 that aredisposed to engage the flanges of a pulley. Each first load block 14 islocated between the next adjacent pins 24. The first load blocks 14 havea projection 15 that extends from the first load block into the space 16between the spaced chains 10, 12. The projection 15 engages the pins 24that join the interleaved links together. The projection has grooves 17positioned on opposite sides of the projection. The grooves 17 aredisposed for receiving the pins 24 and the grooves have a shape thatdoes not restrict rotational movement of the first load blocks 14relative to the pins. The center point for the grooves 17 are positionedat substantially the same point on opposed surfaces of the projection15. The grooves allow the spaced chains 10, 12 to articulate around thepins 24 during use of the chain. The end of the projection 15 that isspaced apart from bottom of the first load block terminates in a flange19 that extends at least partially over adjacent pins 24. Thepositioning of the pins 24 in grooves 17 of the projection 15 and flange19 act to secure the first load block to the spaced chains 10, 12. Thesurface of the first load blocks 14 from which the projection 15extends, has a substantially flat first bearing surface 21. The firstbearing surface 21 is positioned to be in contact with one side of thelinks that form spaced chains 10, 12. The links 16, 18, 20, 22 have asubstantially flat surface 31 against which the first bearing surface ispositioned. The frst bearing surface 21 of the first load blocks 14 isusually disposed to be substantially perpendicular to the side 11 of theprojection 15. The side 11 of the projection 15 is substantiallyparallel to the outer edge 25 of the spaced chains 10, 12. Thus, thefirst bearing surface 21 is substantially parallel to the edge 25 of thespaced chains 10, 12. The first bearing surface 21 is also substantiallyperpendicular to a plane 27 that extends through the first load block 14in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of said spacedchains 10, 12. The plane 27 extends along the first load blocks 14 thatis spaced apart from the spaced chains 10, 12 can be contoured to removemetal from portions of the load block where the metal is not needed forstrength purposes to reduce the weight of the load block. Thus the loadblocks 14 are longitudinally positioned by the pins 24, and the load iscarried by the pins and the chains. The load blocks 14 may be describedas being generally T-shaped.

The tapered sides 26, 28 of each load block 14 may be roughened toenhance the frictional contact with the flanges 6, 7, respectively of apulley. In actual use, the assembly connects spaced pulleys to provide adrive therebetween, the pulleys may be of a variable nature so that thedrive ratio therebetween is variable, as is known in the art.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the second load blocks 34 that are utilized in thechain-belt. The second load blocks 34 are constructed substantially thesame as the first load blocks 14. Items of the second load blocks thatare the same as the first block block the reference numerals used on thefirst load block will be repeated for those elements. Further, for thesake of brevity, we will not redescribe the similar features as thesefeatures have already been described with respect to the first loadblocks 14. However, we will describe the differences that are presentbetween the second load blocks 34 and the first load blocks 14. Thesecond load blocks 34 have a second bearing surface 41 that is disposedat an angle with respect to the first bearing surface 21 of the firstload blocks 14. The second bearing surface 41 is also disposed to engagethe surface 31 formed by the links 16, 18, 20, 22. The second bearingsurface 41 on the second load blocks 34 is also disposed at an angle Awith respect to a line 46 that extends perpendicularly to a plane 47that extends through the second load block in a direction transverse tothe direction of travel for the spaced chains 10, 12 where the plane 47extends along the transverse centerline of the second load block 34. Theangle A is substantially the same as the angle between the first bearingsurface 21 and the second bearing surface 41. In practice it has beenfound to be particularly desirable to ahve the second bearing surface 41disposed at an angle from about 1° to about 10° with respect to thefirst bearing surface 21. The second load blocks 34 have grooves 37positioned on opposite sides of the projection 15. The grooves 37 aredisposed for receiving the pins 24 and the grooves have a shape thatdoes not restrict rotational movement of the second load blocks 34relative to the pins. The grooves 37 allow the chains 10, 12 toarticulate around the pins 24 during use of the chain. The center points38 for the grooves 37 on the second load blocks 34 are also disposed atan angle B with respect to a line 236 that is substantially parallel toline 46. Angle B is substantially the same as angle A for the secondbearing surface 41. The position for the center points 38 for thegrooves 37 results in one of the arcuate grooves 37 being positionedfurther from the flange 19 that is positioned on the top of theprojection 15 on the second load block 34. The arcuate groove 37 aredisposed at substantially the same angle as the second baring surface 41on the second load blocks 34. The angle B for the arcuate grooves 37 onthe second load blocks 34 allow the second bearing surfaces 41 to bepositioned adjacent and in contact with the surface of the links 16, 18,20 and 22 of the spaced chains 10, 12.

The second laod blocks 34 are normally positioned randomly in thechain-belt 13 of this invention. The second load blocks are disposed atan angle with respect to the first load blocks and engage the flanges 6and 7 of the pulleys 2 and 3 in a different manner than the first loadblocks 14. The random positioning of the second load blocks 34 breaksthe pattern of noise that is produced when the chain-belt 13 engages theflanges of a pulley and significantly reduces the noise generated by thechain-belt 13. It has been found that random positioning is mosteffective in reducing the noise generated by the chain-belt during use.

The pulley contacting sides of the first load blocks 14 and second loadblocks 34 are positioned on opposite sides of the spaced chains 10, 12and this allows the combined chains 10, 12 to be substantially as wideas the first and second load blocks. This allows as many links aspossible to be used to form the spaced chains 10, 12 which improves thetensile strength of the chains. The projection 15 is also relativelythin so that not many links are lost in the space required for theprojection. In practice it has been found that approximately 40% morelinks can be used in the chain of the present invention when compared toprior art CVT chains with load blocks.

The solid monolithic load blocks are also very strong and very effectivein handling the forces encountered in contacting the flanges 6 and 7 ofthe pulley. In operation the first load blocks 14 and the second loadblocks 34 are forced against the spaced chains 10, 12 so that firstbearing surface 21 and second bearing surface 41 are in contact againstthe links of the chains. This spreads the forces on the chain-belt 13over the bearing surfaces of the first and second load blocks and alsoover the links of the spaced chains 10, 12. This reduces the load thatmust be carried by the projection 15 on the load blocks and the pins 24that secure together the links of the spaced chains 10, 12. This allowsthe projection to be relatively small in size as the basic role of theprojection is to hold the first and second load blocks in positionadjacent the spaced chains 10, 12 and to assist in removing the firstand second load blocks from the pulleys. Accordingly, the spaced chains10, 12 can be as large as possible to increase the tensile strength ofthe chains.

The first load blocks 14 and second load blocks 34 may be constructed ofsteel or other suitable material and the chain links are generallystamped from sheet metal ribbon stock and the pins are generally dieformed metal stock. The opposite ends of the pins can be upset to retainthe assembly of links, or in a preferred embodiment, the outside linksof the chains are press-fit on the pins during the assembly of the linksand load blocks while the inner links are slip-fit on the pins.

The second load blocks 34 can also be rotated 180° when they arepositioned on the chain-belt 13. The rotated second load blocks aregiven the reference numeral 35 in FIG. 3. The rotated second load blocks35 are the same as the second load blocks 34 except that the load blockhas been rotated 180° with respect to the chain-belt. This rotationplaces the second bearing surface 41 on the rotated second load blocks35 at an angle with respect to the first load bearing surface 21 of thefirst load blocks 14 and the second load bearing surface 41 of thesecond load blocks 34. Although FIG. 3 shows first load blocks 14,second load blocks 34 and rotated second load blocks 35 being used onthe chain-belt 13 it should be understood that only second load blocks34 and rotated second load blocks 35 can be utilized. The second loadblocks 34 and rotated second load blocks 35 are normally randomlypositioned in the chain-belt 13 and engage the flanges 6 and 7 of thepulleys 2, 3 at different positions to reduce the noise generated by thechain-belt during use.

FIGS. 9-13 show another construction of the present invention thatutilizes a single chain 61 and a plurality of generally trapezodialfirst load blocks 65 and second load blocks 85 to form an endlesschain-belt 67. The chain 61 is formed of sets of interleaved links 66,68 respectively, which are pivotally joined together by pins 74. Thefirst load blocks 65 have tapered sides 76, 78 that are disposed toengage the flanges of a pulley. Each load block is located betweenadjacent pins 74 on the chain-belt 67. The first load blocks 65 have asubstantially flat first bearing surface 71 that is disposed insubstantially the same manner and for the same purpose as the firstbearing surface 21 utilized with the first load blocks 14 previouslydescribed for chain-belt 14. A projection 75 extends from each end ofthe first load blocks 65 and extends between the adjacent pins 74. Theprojections 75 engage the pins 74 that join the interleaved linkstogether. The projections 75 have grooves 77 that are positioned onopposite sides of the projections. The grooves 77 are disposed forreceiving the pins 74 and the grooves have a shape that does notrestrict rotational movement of the first load blocks 65 relative to thepins. The grooves 77 allow the chain 61 to articulate around the pins 74during use of the chain. The ends of the projections 75 that are spacedfrom the bottom of the first load blocks terminate in a flange 79 thatextends at least partially over the adjacent pins 74. The positioning ofthe pins 74 in the grooves 77 of the projections 75 and the flanges 79act to secure the first load blocks 65 to the chain 61.

The second load blocks 85 are substantially the same as the first loadblocks 65. However, the second load blocks 85 have a second bearingsurface 91 and grooves 97 that are disposed in substantially the samemanner and for the same purpose as the second bearing surface 41 andgrooves 37 of the second load blocks 34 as previously described forchain-belt 14. The second bearing surface 91 and grooves 97 are disposedat substantially the same angle with respect to the first bearingsurface 71 as previously described for the second bearing surface 41 andgrooves 37 of the second load blocks 34 of the chain-belt 14. The secondload blocks 85 are also randomly positioned in the chain-belt 67. Thus,the first load blocks 65 and second load blocks 85 are essentially thesame in structure and function as the previously discussed first loadblocks 14 and second load blocks 34. The only significant difference isthat the projections 75 for the present load blocks are located on eachend of the load blocks instead of in the center of the load blocks.

The second load blocks 85 can be rotated 180° when they are positionedon the chain-belt 67. The rotated second load blocks 86 are the same asthe second load blocks 85 except that the load block has been rotated180° . This rotation is done for the same purpose and in the same manneras previously described for second load blocks 34. The second loadblocks 85 and rotated second load blocks 86 can also be used exclusivelyin the chain-belt 67 as previously described and these load blocks wouldbe randomly positioned on the chain-belt 67.

The chain-belt 67 of this embodiment functions in the same basic manneras the previously described chain-belt 13. One advantage of thisembodiment is that the projections 75 are located on the outside edge ofthe chain 61 and the projections can act to retain the links 66, 68 intheir position in the chain 61. This allows guide links or other devicesthat are normally used to hold the chain together to be eliminated.

In practice it has been found that the construction utilized for thechain-belt of this invention can reduce the noise produced by thechain-belt during use from about 40% to about 70% over similar prior artchain-belts.

The above description is given for the sake of explanation. Variousmodifications and substitutions, other than those cited, can be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An endless power transmission chain-belt (13) especiallyadapted for drivingly connecting the pulleys (2, 3) of a pulleytransmission (1) comprising:a chain (10, 12), said chain (10, 12) beingan assembly of a plurality of interleaved sets of links (16, 18, 20,22); a pivot means (24) extending through said chains (10, 12) to laceand pivotally interconnect adjacent sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22) toprovide an endless chain-belt (13), said sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22)of said chain (10, 12) being held together by said pivot means (24); aplurality of first load block (14, 34, 35) connected to said chain-belt(13), said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) having at least one projection(15) that extends in a direction towards chain (10, 12), said projection(15) engaging adjacent pivot means (24) to secure said first load blocks(14, 34, 35) to said chain (10, 12), said first load blocks (14, 34, 35)extending substantially across the width of said chain (10, 12), saidfirst load blocks (14, 34, 35) having a first bearing surface (21, 41)that is positioned adjacent said links (16, 18, 20, 22), each first loadblock (14, 34, 35) having lateral edges (26, 28) shaped to frictionallyengage said pulleys (2, 3) of said pulley transmission (1); and aplurality of second load blocks (14, 34, 35) connected to saidchain-belt (13), said second load blocks (14, 34, 35) having at leastone projection (15) that extends in a direction towards said chain (10,12), said projection (15) engaging adjacent pivot means (24) to securesaid second load blocks (14, 34, 35) to said chain (10, 12), said secondload blocks (14, 34, 35) having a second bearing surface (21, 41) thatis positioned adjacent said sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22), said secondbearing surface (21, 41) being disposed at an angle with respect to saidfirst bearing surface (21, 41) of said first load blocks (14, 34, 35)whereby said second load blocks (14, 34, 35) are disposed at an anglewith respect to said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) when said first (21,41) and second (21, 41) bearing surface are in contact with said links(16, 18, 20, 22) and each second load block (14, 34, 35) having lateraledges (26, 28) shaped to frictionally engage said pulleys (2, 3) of saidtransmission (1).
 2. The chain-belt (13) of claim 2, wherein saidprojection (15) on said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) and saidprojection (15) on said second load blocks (14, 34, 35) havesubstantially arcuate grooves (17, 37) for engaging said adjacent pivotmeans (24).
 3. The chain-belt (13) of claim 2, wherein said projections(15) terminates in a flange (19) that extends over the adjacent pivotmeans (24).
 4. The chain-belt (13) of claim 3, wherein said first loadblocks (14, 34, 35) and said second load blocks (14, 34, 35) are a onepiece construction.
 5. The chain-belt (13) of claim 2, wherein firstbearing surface (21, 41) of said load blocks (14, 34, 35) and saidsecond bearing surface (21, 41) of said second load blocks (14, 34, 35)are a substantially flat surface that is positioned adjacent said setsof links (16, 18, 20, 22) to spread the load on said load blocks (14,34, 35) over the width of said chain (10, 12).
 6. The chain-belt (13) ofclaim 5, wherein said links (16, 18, 20, 22) have a substantially flatsurface (31) positioned in contact with said first (21, 41) and second(21, 41) bearing surfaces.
 7. The chain-belt (13) of claim 1, whereinsaid first bearing surface (21) is disposed substantailly perpendicularto a plane that extends through said first load block (14) in adirection transverse to said direction of travel for said chain (10, 12)where said plane extends along the transverse centerline for said firstload block (14).
 8. The chain-belt (13) of claim 7, wherein said secondbearing surface (41) is disposed at an angle from about 1° to about 10°with respect to said first bearing surface (21) and with respect to aline that extends perpendicular to a plane that extends through saidsecond load block (34, 35) in a direction transverse to said directionof travel for said chains (10, 12) where said plane extends along thetransverse centerline for said second load block (34, 35).
 9. Thechain-belt (13) of claim 8, wherein said articulate grooves (37) on saidsecond load blocks (34, 35) are disposed at an angle where one of saidarcuate grooves (37) is positioned further from said flange (19) of saidprojection (15) on said second load block to allow said second bearingsurface (41) to be in contact with said links (16, 18, 20, 22).
 10. Thechain-belt (13) of claim 9, wherein said arcuate grooves (37) on saidsecond load blocks (34, 35) are disposed at substantially the same angleas said second bearing surface (41).
 11. The chain-belt (13) of claim 1,wherein said chain is comprised of a first (10) and a second (12) chainand said first and second chains (10, 12) are disposed in substantiallyparallel spaced apart relationship.
 12. The chain-belt (13) of claim 11,wherein said projection (15) on said first blocks (14, 34, 35) and saidprojection on said second load blocks (14, 34, 35) extends between saidfirst and second chains (10, 12).
 13. The chain-belt (67) of claim 1,wherein a projection (75) is located on each end of said first loadblocks (65, 85, 86) and a projection (75) is located on each end of saidsecond load blocks (65, 85, 86) said projection (75) engaging saidadjacent pivot means (74) to secure said first (65, 85, 86) and second(65, 85, 86) load blocks to said chain (61).
 14. The chain-belt (13) ofclaim 1, wherein said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) and said secondload blocks (14, 34, 35) are randomly positioned in said chain-belt(13).
 15. The chain-belt (13) of claim 1, wherein said first bearingsurface (41) is disposed at an angle from about 1° to about 10° withrespect to a line that extends perpendicular to a plane that extendsthrough said first load block (34) in a direction transverse to saiddirection of travel for said chain (10, 12) where said plane extendsalong the transverse centerline for said first load block (34).
 16. Thechain-belt (13) of claim 15 wherein said second load block (35) is afirst load block (34) that has been rotated 180° on said chain (10, 12)so that said second bearing surface (41) is disposed at an angle withrespect to said first bearing surface (41).
 17. An endless powertransmission chain-belt (13) especially adapted for drivingly connectingthe pulleys (2, 3) of a pulley transmission (1) comprising:a chain (10,12), said chain (10, 12) being an assembly of a plurality of interleavedsets of links (16, 18, 20, 22), said plurality of links (16, 18, 20, 22)defining a flat surface (31) along one side of said claim (10, 12); apivot means (24) extending through said chains (10, 12) to lace andpivotally interconnect adjacent sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22) toprovide an endless chain-belt (13), said sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22)of said chain (10, 12) being held together by said pivot means (24); aplurality of first load blocks (14, 34, 35) connected to said chain-belt(13), said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) having at least one projection(15) that extends in a direction towards chain (10, 12), said projection(15) defining substantially arcuate grooves (17, 37) on opposite sidesof said projection (15), said grooves (17, 37) being disposed to engageadjacent pivot means (24) to secure said first load blocks (14, 34, 35)to said chain (10, 12), said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) extendingsubstantially across the width of said chain (10, 12), said first loadblocks (14, 34, 35) having a substantially flat first bearing surface(21, 41) that is positioned adjacent said flat surface (31) of saidlinks (16, 18, 20, 22), each first load block (14, 34, 35) havinglateral edges (26, 28) shaped to frictionally engage said pulleys (2, 3)of said pulley transmission (1); and a pluralilty of second load blocks(14, 34, 35) connected to said chain-belt (13), said second load blocks(14, 34, 35) having at least one projection (15) that extends in adirection towards said chain (10, 12), said projection (15) definingsubstantially arcuate grooves (17, 37) on opposite sides of saidprojection (15), said grooves (17m, 37) being disposed to engageadjacent pivot means (24) to secure said second load blocks (14, 34, 35)to said chain (10, 12), said second load blocks (14, 34, 35) having asubstantially flat second bearing surface (21, 41) that is positionedadjacent said sets of links (16, 18, 20, 22), said second bearingsurface (21, 41) being disposed at an angle with respect to said firstbearing surface (21, 41) of said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) wherebysaid second load blocks (14, 34, 35) are disposed at an angle withrespect to said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) when said first (21, 41)and second (21, 41) bearing surface are in contact with said flatsurface (31) of said links (16, 18, 20, 22) and each second load blocks(14, 34, 35) having lateral edges (26, 28) shaped to frictionally engagesaid pulleys (2, 3) of said transmission (1).
 18. The chain-belt (13) ofclaim 17, wherein said projections (15) terminate in a flange (19) thatextends over the adjacent pivot means (24).
 19. The chain-belt (13) ofclaim 17, wherein said first load blocks (14, 34, 35) and said secondload blocks (14, 34, 35) are a one piece construction.
 20. Thechain-belt (13) of claim 17, wherein said first bearing surface (21) isdisposed substantially perpendicular to a plane that extends throughsaid first load blocks (14) in a direction transverse to said directionof travel for said chains (10, 12) where said plane extends along thetransverse centerline for said first load blocks (14).
 21. Thechain-belt (13) of claim 20, wherein said second bearing surface (41) isdisposed at an angle form about 1° to about 10° with respect to saidfirst bearing surface (21) and with respect to a line that extendsperpendicular to a plane that extends through said second load blocks(34) in a direction transverse to said direction of travel for saidchains (10, 12) where said plane extends along the transverse centerlinefor said second load blocks (34).
 22. The chain-belt (13) of claim 20,wherein said articulate grooves (37) on said second load blocks (34) ardisposed at an angle where one of said arcuate grooves (37) is positionfurther from said flange (19) of said projection (15) on said secondload block (34) to allow said second bearing surface (41) to be incontact with said flat surface 31 of said links (16, 18, 20, 22), 23.The chain-belt (13) of claim 22, wherein said arcuate grooves (37) onsaid second load blocks (34) are disposed at substantially the sameangle as said second bearing surface (41).
 24. The chain-belt (13) ofclaim 17, wherein said chain is comprised of a first (10) and second(12) chain and said first (10) and second (12) chain are disposed insubstantially parallel spaced apart relationship.
 25. The chain-belt(13) of claim 24, wherein said projection (15) on said first load blocks(14, 34, 35) and said projection (15) on said second load blocks (14,34, 35) extends between said first and second chains (10, 12).
 26. Thechain-belt (67) of claim 17, wherein a projection (75) is located oneach end of said first load blocks (65, 85, 86) and a projection (75) islocated on each end of said second load blocks (65, 85, 86) saidprojections (75) engaging said adjacent pivot means (74) to secure saidfirst load blocks (65, 85, 86) and second load blocks (65, 85, 86) tosaid chain (61).
 27. The chain-belt (13) of claim 17, wherein said firstload blocks (14, 34, 35) said second load blocks (14, 34, 35) arerandomly positioned in said chain-belt (13).
 28. The chain-belt (13) ofclailm 17, wherein said first bearing surface (41) is disposed at anangle from about 1° to about 10° with respect to a line that extendsperpendicular to a plane that extends through said first load block (34)in a direction transverse to said direciton of travel for said chain(10, 12) where said plane extends along transverse centerline for saidfirst load block (34).
 29. The chain-belt (13) of claim 28 wherein saidsecond load block (35) is a first load block (34) that has been rotated180° on said chain (10, 12) so that said second bearing surface (41) isdisposed at an angle with respect to said first bearing surface (41).